Palace says Rody fine, not taken to hospital

Malacañang has dismissed as “fake news” the rumors circulating that President Duterte was allegedly rushed to the hospital, warning that it was a crime to spread such false report.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President remains “fine” and would even visit Zamboanga Sibugay yesterday afternoon.

“There is no truth to the rumors that the President was rushed to the hospital. The President is in Davao. There is no truth. It is tsismis. It is fake news,” Roque said during a press conference in Zamboanga Sibugay.

“The President is fine. Although he went to have a regular checkup the night before the SoNA, he has not been to any medical facility since. It is in fact a crime to spread this kind of news,” he added.

Roque said the President’s attendance to the 69th founding anniversary of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay would “belie all these false reports” about Duterte’s alleged medical emergency.

The 73-year-old Duterte had a routine medical checkup at the Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City on the eve of his nationwide public address. He was declared to be in good health after an hour and a half checkup by his doctors.